Nations League | League B

Oct 13, 2024 at 5pm UK

Helsingin olympiastadion

Finland vs England

Match preview

Following the sad passing of former Sheffield United and Greece right-back George Baldock at the age of just 31, the team that was due to play England at Wembley on Thursday asked for the match to be postponed. However, they were told that it had to go ahead just 24 hours after his death.

Despite being in mourning for their former teammate, Greece played an experimental England side very well in the capital and deservedly left with a first-ever win over the Three Lions under their belts, thanks to a Vangelis Pavlidis double in the second half.

Jude Bellingham's drive had temporarily restored parity for England, but it was clear that the Three Lions didn't deserve anything from Thursday's game. Greece had another few goals disallowed as they easily beat Carsley's disjointed troops.

Now three points behind the Greeks in second place in League B Group 2, which would only suffice for a relegation/promotion playoff, England are trying to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since June 2022. Back then, they were beaten 1-0 by Italy in the Nations League after losing 5-0 at home to Hungary.

Finland were on course for a third consecutive win in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League, having failed to pick up a point or score a goal in September's double-header. However, they suffered the same fate as their upcoming visitors on matchday three.

Joel Pohjanpalo's goal in the 17th minute gave Markku Kanerva's team a narrow lead at half-time against Ireland. However, Robbie Brady inspired the Irish to come back in the second half. The former Burnley winger set up Liam Scales's equaliser and then scored the winning goal in the 88th minute.

Finland are in the second tier of the Nations League for the third year running, but the Eagle-owls are currently on a one-way street back down to League C. They're currently in fourth place in Group 2 after three consecutive defeats.

The team's defensive weaknesses have been exposed time and again this year. They haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last eight matches across all competitions and have conceded multiple goals in six of their last seven games, including each of their last five.

Finland also lost to a Harry Kane double – on his 100th England appearance, no less – when they played at Wembley last month. That makes it 10 wins from 12 for the Three Lions against the Eagle-owls, who have never lost to Sunday's hosts. But the same was true about Greece before Wednesday's upset, so nothing is a given for Carsley in Helsinki.

Recent Performance

Finland Nations League form:LLL

Finland form (all competitions):WLDLLL

England Nations League form:WWL

England form (all competitions):WWLWWL

Injuries and suspensions

Finland10 Teemu Pukki

England：7 Bukayo Saka、9 Harry Kane

Possible starting lineups

Finland(4-2-3-1)

1Hrádecky(GK)

13Ståhl(DR)

4Ivanov(DC)

5Hoskonen(DC)

2Galvez(DL)

11Schüller(DMC)

22Walta(DMC)

8Lod(AMR)

6Kamara(AMC)

21Keskinen(AML)

20Pohjanpalo(FW)

England(4-2-3-1)

1Pickford(GK)

2Alexander-Arnold(DR)

5Stones(DC)

15Colwill(DC)

3Lewis(DL)

4Rice(DMC)

19Gomes(DMC)

11Gordon(AML)

8Bellingham(AMC)

20Palmer(AMR)

18Watkins(FW)